Long haul holiday at 31 weeks pregnant

[Thebeing1]

Hi everyone!

I booked a holiday through TUI to the DR before I knew I was pregnant.

if everything goes well, I’ll be 31 months weeks pregnant when the holiday arrives. I cannot move it forward because of work commitments from both my husband and I and don’t want wish to move it after the baby is here as travelling with a newborn that far away is going to be awful lol

has anyone travelled that far along? How did you find it? I read in the NHS website that I’ll need a certificate from my doctor and also with TUI, you need to travel back by week 36/37 so I think it will be fine?

I did a transatlantic at about 30 weeks. I didn’t need a doctor’s note (i studied the airline and travel insurance small print) but that was 15 years ago now. It wasn’t very comfortable, but I was enormous by then. But it wasn’t very comfortable fine and I’m glad we went. My feet really swelled up, with hindsight compression socks would have been sensible.

GPs will do a factual letter but not usually say 'fit to fly'so you'll need a private travel dr for that. Where are you going and what are the neonatal ICU facilities like if you go into premature labour and are you cast iron sure that your travel insurance will pay for neonatal care.

The DR is listed as having a risk of Zika on the government’s website. Given that, and the long haul flight relatively late in your pregnancy, I wouldn’t be going.

It’s the date on your return you need to check, is that too late and do you need a fit to fly for the return flight within a few days of flying so out there? Personally I would contact TUI and ask them if you can over the holiday perhaps to a European destination once baby arrives

https://www.tui.co.uk/discover/safe-flying-during-pregnancy

Personally I’d rather go not pregnant when baby is about 10-12 weeks old. Easiest holiday we’ve ever done was when DD was 8 weeks old, 4 hour flight. She slept pretty much the whole time and was no issue at all. Slept really well at night.
my pregnancies have both been high risk, consultant lead…. Went long haul with my 1st when I was 20 weeks , which was fine… wouldn’t have done at 30/31 weeks.

Hard agree, I am also currently pregnant and would not even think of going to DR. I would try switch to a new destination!

I went long haul at 25 weeks, for 3 weeks with baby 1 and short haul at 31 weeks pregnant, for 10days with baby 2. Though long haul, medical facilities locally were good.

at 31 weeks when travelling to DR I personally wouldn’t go and I’m fairly resilient to things (went to a wedding with baby 1 at 10 days old etc). Statistically you will almost certainly be fine, however it’s the IF’s. I’ve been to the DR and a lot is very rural and poor. What would be the healthcare facilities available if something went wrong ie reduced fetal movement? Or worst case premature labour? Or if you were in an accident?

do you have high level comprehensive travel insurance and have you informed them you are pregnant? Check you are covered.

how would you feel if the worst happened and you were stuck there for weeks/months

if you have covered all bases, then go.

The biggest stumbling block I think you'll find is getting a fit to fly note. Most GPs won't do them because they aren't involved in antenatal care. If you end up being consultant led then your midwife probably won't do it either (as was the case for my pregnancy).

You can pay online services to draft you a letter but as it needs to be dated within 14 days of your flight, if they deem you not fit to fly for any reason you'll probably find it's too late to reschedule/refund/cancel your trip.

https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/country/67/dominican-republic#Other_Risks

I would strongly recommend against going to DR due to Zika virus risk. It would be best to change your destination.

So airlines can ask for proof letter and may not let you fly past 28 weeks. I was asked to show a letter as I was travelling abroad to visit family and they have the right to refuse you. Some airlines won’t let you fly. I know people who have been denied.

You also need to check with your midwife as we don’t know your medical history.

You may also not be covered by insurance. You are more at risk for blood clots as well. I would let your insurance company know as while not classed a pre existing condition you may not be covered fully if you need to go to the hospital or go into early labour.

Also consider if you do go into early labour do you want to have your baby abroad and ‘stuck’ there for some time? Do you trust the healthcare of that country? A lot of countries don’t offer all the choices for birth (elective c for example) so you may go down a road you don’t want to/

I think you need to seriously consider the up risks including Zika (you haven’t said where you are going) and if it’s worth it.

Zika risk plus something called the Oropouche virus which also carries risks in pregnancy and has recently had an outbreak in DR.
Nope. Consult your midwives etc, but from me it'd be a nope.

Thank you everyone for their comments! I’m going to look at changing the destination. Still travelling at 31 weeks but somewhere else!

we will also be travelling with our toddler that will be 3 years old.

i do not wish to travel after the baby is born as im likely to use formula and I know how much of a pain that is to travel with as I travelled with my daughter when she was 12 weeks old and that was just to Tenerife to visit my family so they had most of the bulky items we need it.

can’t imagine having to travel to a proper holiday with a 12 week old baby and a toddler

Having just done a 5 hour journey at 30 weeks, there is no way I would do more than 2-3 hours. It was just very uncomfortable and I felt super cramped.